Eritage resort prepares to open this fall in Walla Walla

Eritage is a new 300-acre project in the Walla Walla Valley, led by Justin Wylie of Va Piano Vineyards, that will include 10 luxury suites and a restaurant headed up by James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson. (Photo courtesy of Fire & Vine Hospitality)

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — It’s a dream that’s been in decade in the making, but Va Piano Vineyards founder Justin Wylie is poised this fall to open Eritage, his wine country resort just outside of Walla Walla.

“As a fourth-generation Walla Walla native, this place is part of me,” Wylie stated in a news release. “The north side of town is a big part of this region’s future and I acquired this land in 2007 because it offers incredible natural beauty, accessibility to all that Walla Walla has to offer and a big opportunity to create a vineyard oasis. We have been growing a variety of fruit here for the last few years and look forward to creating some very special wines.”

Eritage is a bed-and-breakfast partnership about six miles north of Walla Walla along Bergevin Springs Road that spans 300 acres and includes financial support from Business Growth Capital of Long Beach, Calif., and development management by Scott Knox of Vista Venture Partners while Fire & Vine Hospitality is responsible for resort services, dining and operations.

“We will embrace a craftsman’s approach to cooking, using live fire as a medium and looking for the best ways to highlight the highest quality ingredients that speak to the region,” said Wilson, who is culinary director of Eritage, Fire & Vine and chef/owner of Miller’s Guild, The Lakehouse and Civility & Unrest. “Eritage will feature a simple, approachable and deliciously focused menu that embraces the heritage of Walla Walla and tradition of modern American cooking.”

Walla Walla set to add Eritage as wine country destination

Wylie established Eritage within rolling fields of the Palouse with wheat and vineyards, and the group is looking to create unique wine country experiences reminiscent of Cave B near the Gorge Amphitheater and Abeja along Mill Creek Road east of Walla Walla. Each suite opens to a patio or deck with expansive views of the Blue Mountains, rolling farmland and a pristine man-made lake.

“Walla Walla presents a unique opportunity for a project like Eritage because it has an ideal mix of different elements all coming together in one really special place,” Knox said. “This town has such a rich identity and history of agriculture, education and winemaking. Our team is dedicated to being responsible about building and creating something that truly honors that.”

About Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman is the president and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for 15 years. He is a frequent wine judge along the West Coast.